The distance that light travels in 1 year (a light year) is 5.88 x 10^12 miles. If a star is 2.4 x 10^8 light years away, what is the distance to that star in miles?
How would you even begin the problem?
distance=5.88E12mi/yr * 2.4E8 yr
5.88 x 10^12 x 2.4 x 10^8
= 14.112 x 10^20
= 1.4112 x 10^21
To find the distance to the star in miles, you need to multiply the value of a light year (5.88 x 10^12 miles) by the distance in light years (2.4 x 10^8). Here's how you can solve the problem step by step:
Step 1: Write down the given values:
- Distance of one light year = 5.88 x 10^12 miles
- Distance to the star = 2.4 x 10^8 light years (which we want to find in miles)
Step 2: Multiply the distances:
Multiply the value of a light year by the distance to the star in light years. Remember that when you multiply numbers in scientific notation, you multiply the coefficients and add the exponents.
(5.88 x 10^12 miles) x (2.4 x 10^8 light years)
Step 3: Multiply the coefficients:
5.88 x 2.4 = 14.112
Step 4: Add the exponents:
10^12 * 10^8 = 10^(12+8) = 10^20
Step 5: Multiply the coefficient and the exponent:
14.112 x 10^20
Step 6: Write the final answer in scientific notation:
The distance to the star is approximately 1.4112 x 10^21 miles.
Therefore, the distance to the star is approximately 1.4112 x 10^21 miles.